Combined



March 3, 1964 c. E. MURCOTT COMBINED CHAIR, TABLE AND FOOT REST STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 20, 1963 JTTOR/V/FY March 3, 1964 c. E. MURCOTT 3,123,397

COMBINED CHAIR, TABLE AND FOOT REST STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 20;; 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. K/MRMS f. Mama rr gg mvw United States Patent 3,123,397 CGMBINED CHAIR, TABLE AND FQOT REST STRUCTURE (Iharles E. Murcett, Valley Drive, Bay Crest, Huntington, Nit Filed Feb. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 259,971 9 Claims. (@i. Edi-4.50)

This invention relates to chairs and particularly to a structure of this type and kind, wherein table and foot rest elements are combined therewith to provide a chair suitable for use by invalids or convalesoing people in several uses thereof. More particularly, the invention deals with a structure of the character defined comprising primarily two side frames joined and braced by seat and backrest members, wherein the foot rest element is slidably, adjustably and detachably mounted in connection with the side frames and, further, wherein the table element slidably engages the frames and is adjustable into diiferent positions therein.

Still more particularly, the invention deals in a structure of the character defined, wherein the table element can be swung from a normal use position into a stored position outwardly of one of the side frames.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a structure made according to my invention, with parts of the construction broken away and parts in section showing the table element in use position and the foot rest element in a partially collapsed position.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the structure shown in FIG. 1, with part of the upper structure broken away and illustrating the table element in collapsed position at one side of the structure, with part of the construction broken away and in section.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lower face of the table element detached, illustrating supporting rods in use position of the table in full lines and in collapsed position for storage at one side of the structure in dot-dash lines.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of part of the foot rest element detached; and

FIG. 5 is a partial section on the line'5-5 of FIG. 1.

In illustrating one adaptation of my invention, I have shown a chair structure consisting of two generally similar side frames 10, and, in FIG. 1, is shown a side View of the frame 1d and the brief description of this frame will apply to the frame 1%, except from the standpoint of slight modifications in the frame It), later referred to. The frame 10 consists of leg parts 11 and 12, the part 11 being offset forwardly and bent to form a supplemental handgrip extension 13, from which extends an armrest portion 14, having a suitable armrest member 15 fixed thereto, as by screws, indicated, in part, at 16. The leg member 12 has a short substantially perpendicular foot portion 17 at its lower end, from which extends an inwardly and upwardly extending angular portion 18 joining an upwardly extending and rearwardly inclined backrest and seat supporting portion 19 in a curved portion 20'. The rear end of the armrests 14, 14' are welded to 19, 1%, the weld of 14 on 19 is seen in FIG. 1 at 21. A brace tube 22 extends between the upper portion of the leg proper 11 and the portion 19 and is welded to both of these members and it will be noted that the comparable brace tube 22 on the frame 10 is positioned lower than 22 for purposes which will later appear. Another brace tube 23 extends between 3,123,397 Patented Mar. 3, 19%4 and is welded to the lower end of 11 and the foot 17 of 12. The comparable brace tube on 16 is shown at 23' in FIG. 2 of the drawing and is in horizontal alinement with 23. Both braces 23 and 23 are disposed upon inner surfaces of 11 and 17; whereas, the brace tubes 22, 22 are on outer surfaces of the frames 10, 10 as seen in FIG. 2 of the drawing.

The above described parts form each of the side frames and it will be apparent from a consideration of FIG. 1 of the drawing that a U-shaped handgrip tubular member 24 has inwardly and downwardly extending sides, one of which is shown at 25 in FIG. 1, and one of these sides is provided with a spring pressed button 26 operating in an aperture in the upper end of 19 in retaining 24 against accidental displacement, while at the same time facilitating attachment and detachment of 24, particularly in knockdown packaging and storing of the complete structure. At 27 is shown a conventional-type of cushioned and upholstered seat, the forward end portion of which is fixed to the leg members 11, 11 by two screws 28, 28' and the rear portion of the seat 27 is fixed to the lower portion of 19, I? and one of these couplings only is shown, namely the screw 29 in FIG. 1 of the drawing. At 30 is shown a cushioned and upholstered backrest which is fixed to '19, 19' by widely spaced screws 31 and one of the screws 31' on 19 is shown in the broken away illustration at the left of FIG. 2.

While the leg members 11 and 12 can have any type and kind of floor engaging members, in the construction shown, roller casters 3 2 are employed on the front legs and '33 on the rear legs, the latter preferably including braking means, one of which is shown at 34 in FIG. 1 of the drawing, to definitely lock the chair against movement. These casters are well-known in the art and, for this reason, no detail description is deemed to be necessary. In FIG. 2, the caster 32' is mounted in the lower end of 11, but no showing is made of the rear casters in this figure.

At 35 I have shown a table element, shown in perspective detail in FIG. 3 of the drawing. This element comprises a preferably plastic-faced table 36 oblong in rectangular form to extend between the armrest portions 14, 14. Mounted in pairs of sleeves 37 and 33 fixed to the lower surface of the table 36 inwardly of sides thereof are two U-shaped table supporting members 3& and 4d. Each member has a pivot side 41 and 42, respectively, pinned or otherwise formed, as at 43 and 44 to definitely position 41 and 42 on the table. Ends of 41 and 42 have angularly offset extensions 41 and 42' which substantially parallel the armrests 14, 14 when the element 35 is in use position, as indicated in FIG. 1. In this connection, it will be understood that both 41 and 42 are disposed outwardly of the armrest portions, as will clearly appear from a consideration of FIG. 1. The members 39 and dil include free sides 45 and 46, respectively, the side 46 being considerably longer than 45, so as to maintain 46 in its tubular support 22' after 45' has cleared the forward edge of 22, so that the table element can be swung to the side of the chair rotating in this operation on the side 46 and both members 3? and are collapsed upon the lower surface of the table 36, as indicated in dot-dash lines in FIG. 3 and shown in full lines in FIG. 2, after which, the table element 35 is moved backwardly on the frame side 10 and, in this operation, the side of the member 39 passes through an upwardly extending retainer yoke"47 welded to 22, thus retaining the table element in the stored position outwardly of the frame 10', as clearly illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawing.

It will be noted, from a consideration of FIG. 1, that the inner or free end of the side 45 has a rounded plug 43 which facilitates free coupling of the side 45 with amass? 2-2 and passage of the end of 45 over a spring pressed pin 49 suitably mounted in the forward end portion of 22, the pin 49 having an external manually operable button fit for movement of 49 into inoperative position. it will also appear from a consideration of FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawing that the side 45 has on its lower surface apertures 51 engaged by the pin 49* to retain the table element in different adjusted positions on the frames iii, 1%. in this manner, the table 36 can be suitably positioned with respect to the occupant of the chair for comfortable use of the table or for utilizing the table as a means retaining an invalid arranged in the chair against displacement or accidental movement. it will also be apparent that, in moving the table element 35 from the stored position to the use position, the element will be extended sutficiently to bring 45 in a sufficiently advanced position to re-engage 22, while lca ing 1-6 in 22' and the complete element is swung across the front of the chair and reassembled, as will be apparent. This operation and the reversal thereof can be performed while a person is seated in the chair and by that person, if the individual is capable of the operation.

At 52 l have generally shown what 1 term a foot and leg rest supporting element, a bottom plan view of the foot rest part of this element being shown in FIG. 4 of the drawing. This part of the element comprises an oblong rectangular foot rest 53 which can have on its upper surface a suitable tread. Secured to the lover surface of the foot rest are offset pairs of sleeves 54 for support of two slide tubes 55 arranged at and spaced with respect to sides of 53. Welded to are substantially L-shapcd tubular bracliets 56, the legs of which are fixedly retained in position by the sleeves 54.

Mounted in the free end portion of one of the tubes 55 is a spring pressed button 57, which is adapted to operate in connection with an aperture 58 in the brace tube 23 in checking outward movement of the element 52 while, at the same time, facilitating detachment of 52 from the frames Itil, llli whenever desired. In 1 of the drawing, the element 52 is shown in a partially collapsed position and, when fully collapsed, suliicient clearance will be provided at the front of the chair structure to allow the occupant to engage a floor surface in manipulating the chair structure over the surface. When in extended position, the foot rest 53 proper can be ad justed to any desirable foot supporting position.

At 59 i have shown a leg supporting part of the unit 52, wherein 59 preferably comprises a cushioned hassock having, at sides thereof, depending spring clips 6% note FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, which operate upon upper and inner surfaces of either the brace tubes 23, 23' or the slide tubes 55 of the element 52. can normally be stored beneath the seat 27, as seen in FIG. 1, or can be supported on 5'5 forwardly of the seat when the element 52 is in the forwardly extended position.

Considering PEG. 5 of the drawing, it will appear that rear edges of the clips 64 flare outwardly, as seen at 61, sufficiently to ride over the rounded forward ends 62 of 23, as noted, for example, in PEG. 1 of the drawing, so that if 52 is in a supported position on the slide tubes 55 forwardly of the front of the seat, the element 52 can simply be pushed rearwardly and the hassock 59 will ride up onto the tubes 23, 23 and be stored beneath the seat. A ide from this operation, the hassoclc must be manually advanced for positioning on the tubes 55 forwardly of the seat.

All of the metal portions of the chair structure are tubular in form to minimize the overall weight of the chair. When the chair is in use and an occupant desires to move out of the chair unassisted, the element F 35 will be arranged in its stored position, as shown in FIG. 2, and the element 52. will be fully collapsed beneath the seat and the occupant can place his hands on the forwardly extending portions of the armrests 14, 14' as, for example, at 63 on 1.4 in PEG. 1 and, in this oporation, the occupant will be braced directly upon the front legs of the chair, preventing any appreciable moveent of the entire chair structure. This is important as and when the occupant is an invalid and no assistant is available at the time.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A chair structure of the character defined comprising a chair consisting of two generally similar tubular side frames joined by seat and backrest members, each frame including front and rear legs and an armrest portion, lower brace tubes fixed to and joining the leg members of said frames, upper brace tubes fixed to and join ing front and rear portions of said frames adjacent the seat member, the last named brace tube of one of said frames being arranged in lower position than the similar tube on the other of said frames, said structure including a table element slidable in the upper brace tubcs, another element slidably engaging the lower brace tubes, said table element being swingable in the upper brace tube in said lower position in movement of the table element from operative position to a stored position outwardly of one of the side frames of the chair, said table element comprising a table and two U-shaped table supporting members swingably mounted upon the lower surface of the table, one of said members comprising pivot sides, and the other free sides of said members slidably engaging the second named brace tubes of the chair.

2. A chair structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the free side of one of said U-shaped members is longer than the corresponding side of the other members, and said longer side operating in the lower of said upper brace tubes in swinging the table element from stored to operative position and vice versa.

3. A chair structure as defined in claim 2, wherein said shorter free side and the brace tube engaged thereby have cooperating means retaining the table unit in different adjusted operative positions on the chair.

A chair structure as defined in claim 2, wherein the lower of said upper brace tubes includes means ongaged by said shorter side in retention of the table element in stored position.

5. A chair structure of the character defined comprising a chair consi-.ing of two generally similar tubular side frames joined and detachably coupled by seat and backrest members, to which the frames are secured, each frame including front and rear logs, the rear legs including backrest and seat supporting portions, the front legs including integral armrest portions fixed to the backrest supporting portions, lower brace tubes fixed to and joining the leg members of said frame, upper brace tubes fixed to and joining front and rear portions of said frame adjacent the seat member, the last named brace tube of one of said frames being arranged in a lower position than the similar tube of the other of said 1 ames, said chair structure including a table element slidablc in the upper brace tubes, and said table element being swingable in the upper brace tube in said lower position in movement of the table element from an operative position to a stored position outwardly of one of the side frames of the chair.

6. A chair structure as defined in claim 5, wherein upper ends of the backrest supporting portions of said frames are joi ed by a detachable U-shaped rearwardly and upwardly inclined handgrip member.

7. A chair structure as defined in claim 5, wherein said table element and one of said second named brace tubes include cooperating means for support of the table element in different adjusted operative positions on the chair.

8. In a chair comprising a pair of generally similar tubular side frames having armrest portions, a table element for mounting on the chair and support on said armrest portions, said element comprising a table, a pair of U-shaped tubular upporting members, said members having pivot sides and free sides, means on a lower surface of the table adjacent sides thereof for supporting said pivot sides, said free sides paralleling part of the pivot sides and being widely spaced therefrom, and the free side of one of said members having longitudinally spaced apertures engaged by means on one chair frame for retaining said table element in adjusted positions on the armrest portions of the chair.

9. In a chair comprising a pair of generally similar tubular side frames having armrest portions, a table element for mounting on the chair and support on said armrest portions, said element comprising a table, a pair of U-shaped tubular supporting members, said members having pivot sides and free sides, means on a lower surface of the table adjacent sides thereof for supporting said pivot sides, said free sides paralleling part of the pivot sides and being widely spaced therefrom, the free side of one of said members being longer than the free side of companion member, and said longer free side engaging means on one chair frame in swinging said element on the chair from an operative position to a stored position outwardly of one of said side frames.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A CHAIR STRUCTURE OF THE CHARACTER DEFINED COMPRISING A CHAIR CONSISTING OF TWO GENERALLY SIMILAR TUBULAR SIDE FRAMES JOINED BY SEAT AND BACKREST MEMBERS, EACH FRAME INCLUDING FRONT AND REAR LEGS AND AN ARMREST PORTION, LOWER BRACE TUBES FIXED TO AND JOINING THE LEG MEMBERS OF SAID FRAMES, UPPER BRACE TUBES FIXED TO AND JOINING FRONT AND REAR PORTIONS OF SAID FRAMES ADJACENT THE SEAT MEMBER, THE LAST NAMED BRACE TUBE OF ONE OF SAID FRAMES BEING ARRANGED IN LOWER POSITION THAN THE SIMILAR TUBE ON THE OTHER OF SAID FRAMES, SAID STRUCTURE INCLUDING A TABLE ELEMENT SLIDABLE IN THE UPPER BRACE TUBES, ANOTHER ELEMENT SLIDABLY ENGAGING THE LOWER BRACE TUBES, SAID TABLE ELEMENT BEING SWINGABLE IN THE UPPER BRACE TUBE IN SAID LOWER POSITION IN MOVEMENT OF THE TABLE ELEMENT FROM AN OPERATIVE POSITION TO A STORED POSITION OUTWARDLY OF ONE OF THE SIDE FRAMES OF THE CHAIR, SAID TABLE ELEMENT COMPRISING A TABLE AND TWO U-SHAPED TABLE SUPPORTING MEMBERS SWINGABLY MOUNTED UPON THE LOWER SURFACE OF 